South Wales Echo, 25th September 2008
Don’t be surprised if you see a couple of judges being chased through the streets of Cardiff tonight.
They will be taking part in the first Three Courts Challenge which will see lawyers from 25 practices in the capital – as well as a few judges, barristers, legal executives and academics – running to boost the provision of free legal advice in Wales.
Among them will be four family lawyers from Cardiff law firm Wendy Hopkins Family Law Practice.
They will be taking on the 4.6km route to raise cash for Reaching Justice Wales/Cyrraedd Cyfiawnder Cymru.
The new charity’s main aim is to contribute to the availability of legal advice across Wales, supplementing but not replacing legal aid.
Dianne Evans, head of wills and probate at the practice, said: “As a family law firm, we are very aware of the challenges many individuals and organisations face in affording complex legal advice. It will be quite a sight to see so many legal professionals on the streets in Cardiff and will also be a great opportunity for the whole profession to demonstrate its continuing commitment to access to justice for all.”
Dianne will be taking part with fellow lawyers Lorraine Watts, Elizabeth Williams and Eimear Kane walking a route that takes in the main Crown Courts in Cathays Park, the Cardiff magistrates’ courts in Adamsdown and the County Court in the City centre.
Similar events are also taking place in Manchester, Brighton, Leeds and Birmingham.
The Wendy Hopkins Family Law Practice continues its work for charities tomorrow when it hosts a fundraising tea parry at its offices in Windsor Place, Cardiff, in aid of the cancer care charity Macmillan Relief, which is promoting the World Coffee Morning.